ϟϟ-Panzer-Abteilung 11 „Hermann von Salza“

Norwegian tankers of SS.Pz.Abt.11 Hermann von Salza

Panther S25 of SS.Pz.Abt.11 Hermann von Salza

The left photo shows the Norwegian volunteers SS-Untersturmführer Per Kjølner and SS-Untersturmführer Thomas Hvistendahl in Narva in 1944. They both served in 11.SS-Freiwilligen-Panzergrenadier-Division Nordland's SS-Panzer-Abteilung 11 Hermann von Salza. Per Kjølner first served with SS-Infanterie-Regiment Germania of the SS-Division Wiking. After graduating from SS-Junkerschule Bad Tölz in 1943, he became platoon leader in Hermann von Salza and received the Iron Cross First Class and the Close Combat Clasp in Bronze for his actions in Narva. After World War II, Per Kjølner was tried by Olso Byrett and sentenced to five years in prison for treason. He later took over as director of the family company in Norway. Per Kjølner is born in 1921 and is still alive in 2012. FU. Right image: Panther S25 from the Herman von Salza taking on ammunition in Narva in 1944. Seen in this photo is the both Das Reich veterans the Austrian SS-Hauptsturmführer Rudolf Rott, wearing a black Panzerjacke, and to his right the Swede, SS-Untersturmführer Per-Sigurd Baecklund. Rudolf Rott won the German Cross in Gold on December 18 1944 and the Knight's Cross on February 28 1945, 18 days after his death in Pomerania. Per-Sigurd Baecklund, former adjutant of the Swedish SS-Obersturmführer Sven Rydén, graduated from SS-Junkerschule Bad Tölz in 1944. He earned the Iron Cross First Class the same year and became Ordonnansoffizier in SS-Feldersatz-Bataillon 11 of the Nordland in January 1945. He surrendered to the Americans near Ludwigsburg on May 2 1945 but managed to escape and make his way back to Sweden. Per-Sigurd Baecklund died aged 71 in Malmö in Sweden on April 19 1987. Photo taken by SS-Kriegsberichter Hans Truöl. Commons: Bundesarchiv.